Combined license-tag holder and rear signal light



J. L. DAY. COMBINED LICENSE TAG HOLDER AND REAR SIGNAL LIGHT.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 22.1921.

Patented Apr. 18, 1922.

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JOHN L. DAY, OF IJIEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

Application filed'J'anuary 22,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN zen of the United States of ing at Memphis, in the county and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined License-Tag Holders and Rear Signal Lights, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates generally to a combined license tag holder and rear signal light for automoblles and is more especially a device of this type such as shown in my Patent 1,101,122 dated June 23, 1914, my primary object being certain improve ments respecting various parts including the manner of mounting and reenforcing the hood' and the manner of connecting and supporting the foraminous cover in detachable relation to the hood and generally in such refinements as I will hereinafter point outin the description which refers to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and wherein,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved device,

Figure 2 is an end view, and

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view.

As in my previously patented construction, the hood 10 opens an integral ruby glass tube 11 swelling out of its wall, in which a ruby glass 12 may be held in any suitable manner preferably by the usual split ring to obviate the necessity of special tools in replacing broken glasses.

The hood 10 of my presentdevice has a curved front 13, end walls 14; and 15, and a vertical rear wall 16, the latter having an L. DAY, a citi- America, resldinwardly projecting flange 17 in the same plane with similarly inturned flanges 18 and 19 of the front 13 and one end 14. These flanges 17, 18 and 19 form rests or supports for three edges of a rectangular foraminous bottom plate or cover 20. whose function is. to protect the internal light bulb 21 and still permit light from the latter to be thrown downwardly for a purposetobe presently described. Y

The foraminous bottom 20 has an upturned end piece 22 which, when the sides and the other end thereof are properly positioned on the flanges 17, 18 and 19, abuts the outer surface of the end wall 15 of the hood 10 and may be secured thereto by virtue of a screw 23 working through said end piece and through an opening of the end Specification of Letters Patent.

of Shelby 7 ing downwardly and has wall and whose lower Patented Apr. 18, 1922.

Serial No. 429,157.

wall 15 into a nut 24Qsoldered or otherwise secured upon the inner surface of the said end wall. In this way the foraminous bottom is secured in place by a single fastening and this fastening is obviously of a nature capable of ready connection and disconnection by a screw driver which is of course commonly a part of the ordinary automobile tool equipment.

The vertical flat rear wall 16 of the downwardly opening hood provides for a reenforcing plate 25 welded, soldered, or otherwise secured flatwise thereagainst and formin a connecting brace for the entire hood, this platebeing preferably of heavier gauge metal than that of whichthe hood is formed,

and having a depending portion 26 extendmaterially below the rear edge of the hood and provided with lengthwise horizontal slots 27 which not only provide for the adjustment of connecting members 28 in the slots of different license plates, of which one is shown at 29, but also for the adjustment of these fastening members to suit the license plate brackets 30 of dilferent makes of automobiles.

In use, the light from thelight bulb shines I through the foraminous bottom onto the license plate held as above described, and for this purpose the inner surface of the hood may be suitably coated to enhance reflection.

It will be noted that instead of extending the light bulb support within one end 0 the hood, I propose to utilize a supporting downwardly socket arm 31 extending inwardly through the rear wall 16 and also through the reenforcing plate 25, with an external control switch at 32 to which the battery wire or wires 33 lead,

I am in this way able to provide a rear signal or lamp box .and license support which may be readily attached and detached, in which the parts are readily accessible for purposes of repair and substitution and one which will be economical, strong, and durable.

I claim: 7

1. A device. of the character described comprising a downwardly opening hood of generally rectangular form having a light tube opening forwardly at a point intermediate its ends and also having a vertical flat rear wall, a reenforcing plate whose upper portion is secured flatwise along said rear portion depends below the hood and has horizontally slotted openings providing for its adjustable connection to license plates and license plate brackets, and a light support extending within the hood through its rear vertical wall and through said reenforcing plate.

2. A device of the character described comprising a downwardly opening hood of generally means therein and having inturned flanges along the sides and along one end of its rectangular form having lighting lower open portion, a foraminous bottom for the hood arranged to seat on said flanges, having an upturned end piece to abut the and fastenin means detachably connecting said upturnec l end piece to the said end wall as and 'for the purpose described; In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

JOHN m y.

unflanged end wall of the hood,.l5 

